My wife and I are signed up to attend "Vintage Walla Walla". It's an event where you get to sample current, and past releases from just about all the Walla Walla area wineries. The event is Saturday Evening, but we're planning on spending an extended weekend making some visits to wineries as well. Any suggestions for wineries to visit? and restaurants to eat at?

Welcome from another WA resident. Taste Walla Walla is a nice event and the wineries are springing up like crazy in the area. There are a host of nice wineries to choose from and it is hard to recommend one. A few personal favorites are Yellowhawk, Spring Mountain, Reninger, and Tamarack. Have fun! I may be there representing TNT.

Followed some of Bucko's advice 2 years ago and had a grand time in Walla Walla. I wish I'd had more time because I didn't get to visit all of the wineries on the list.

In addition to the one's he's listed above, I particularly enjoyed Woodward Canyon and L'Ecole No. 41 (both are near each other on highway 12, west of town) Seven Hills and Canoe Ridge in town. Not only are these wines very good, the wineries have all restored some interesting buildings for their tasting rooms, always a 'plus' in my book.

Thanks! Agreed Bucko, there seems to be sooo many new wineries popping up over there (and all over WA for that matter), that it's hard to keep up, and to know which ones are worthwhile. I've not heard of Yellowhawk, or Spring Mountain, we'll be sure to check them out. We are planning to head to Woodward Canyon, as every bottle I've had from them I've really enjoyed. Thanks for the feedback. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/cool.gif[/img]

Bucko, are you a regular writer in the TNT? I generally read the Seattle Times which just recently began a weekly Wine section on Wednesdays. There's some good stuff in there. I'm only about 2 years into my wine discovery, so I'm doing much reading.....and not nearly enough drinking [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] Thanks again.

For sheer, weird entertainment value, you might drop in on my oddball friend, Charels Smith at "The Magnificent Wine Company" (I swear to God) in Walla Walla. He's making some really interesting stuff, with his "K" Syrahs and his new "Pinot" and "Merlot" (that's what it says on the bottle). He's smart as heck and a good conversationalist, in the same way that an amazingly bright ten-year-old genius will be, i.e., new topics surface frequently and seemingly for no reason.

Also might try the wonderful, crusty, unrepentant Larry Krivosheim at Cooper River. He's a hoot and a little underappreciated. Just dont' ask his neigh bors about him.

Last but certainly not least, I don't think anybody mentioned Waterbrook, which has the nicest tasting room of any of them. They're starting to turn out some classy wines, lately, and are great, friendly folks to boot. They and L'Ecole out in Lowden would be my main recommendations. Great wineries with a nice, personable attitude.

Thanks SB, I've seen those "K-Syrah" Syrahs around but not had one. I thought they were made by "K Vintners", not the Magnificent Wine Company. But it sounds like fun. I'm happy to check out folks who can add a little fun into this sometimes too serious stuff. Waterbrook? I must not be paying much attention, I thought they were at Red Mountain.....no I guess probably just the grapes from the Cabernet I had recently. It was very nice. I think.....I either need to start taking notes, or saving bottles or something.

Jeez, they say the mind is the first thing to go at my advanced age. Here's proof of that: I have this amazing mental block about the NAME of Larry Krivosheim's winery. It's called RUSSEL CREEK, not Cooper River. I've been doing that for well over two years and no end in sight. Cooper River is one of the two that flow around the peninsula on which lies my beloved Charleston, SC, and I guess the yearning I feel for a couple of nights at Mrs. Carr's 2 Meeting Street and dinner at Louis' drags me back there when I think of Larry's wine. (Why, I can't imagine)

At any rate, asking around for the Cooper River Winery in WW is only gonna get you stared at. Sorry.